Jamiedodger's 2010 Journey

brummiebabe

On the subject of milk JD - Tesco do a range if milk called 'creamfields' it's 0.75%fat but tastes same as semi skimmed- 3 litres for 75p (can vary a bit week to week on price - but always cheaper than normal semi skimmed.). My kids love milk & prefer this to normal semi skimmed!! Give it a try - you can spot it easily as it has a purple top/label!!

JAMIEDODGER

Ooh thanks for that Brummiebabe! I normally buy skimmed milk here but I would def give that a try for the huge reduction in my milk bill! I will check it out when I next go to tescos!

JAMIEDODGER

Morning:)

Well I made the roast yesterday in the end, followed a different recipe from my usual and it turned out fab!! I think I also some of the best roasties I have ever made! It went down really well. I made stock from the carcass which I will use to make some soup this week for lunch, I may freeze the other tub. Didnt get round to making twinks again, however I did hardboil some eggs which DD and DS2 had in sarnies for lunch. DS1 and me had JP and cheesy beans.

I managed to strip the chicken bare and after using some for our roast (boys had a wing each with their meat portion) I have a nice sized tub of shredded chicken for sarnies or I might make a pie for dinner tomorrow night.

My HA sent man out yesterday to fit my new shower as it was already booked in to be done. I cant believe I have a shower in this house after 6 years of moaning at them:D However, I cant actually use it until the hot water is sorted. I spoke to them first thing about that and they are coming this afternoon to take out the cylinder, cold water tank and old boiler and replace with a brand new combi boiler:) Apparently this will improve the pressure of my shower for one and secondly I will now have a much larger airing cupboard once the cylinder has been removed! Once all this work has been done then they will sort out making good the ceiling in my hallway where the leak was coming out.

Didnt manage a NSD yesterday as I went to B&Q to buy a shower rail, hooks, curtain and bath mat. £45 later:eek: But I am not that unhappy about it as I have waited a long time for this shower and it was already in my budget for this month!! It looks fab, even if I cant use it yet:rotfl:

I am out this Thursday evening for a meal with a friend, so I will be using up some leftovers for the kids tea. Tonight DD is staying at my mums so only 4 of us here for dinner. Need to adjust the meal planner for both of these. Aiming to spend no more than £10 when I go out, I will be having something smaller to eat (may even have a larger lunch so I wont be as hungry).

It wont be a NSD again today as I have run out of DS3's apples. I will probably go to the co-op rather than Tesco as I can just take £1 and nip in and out quickly without buying anything else:D Less petrol too as I can walk there.

All kiddies are still asleep atm, so I may have time for just one more peaceful cuppa before the noise descends:rotfl:

Verbatim

Hi JD,
Nice to see you around! I'm glad your eldest has got somewhere where he can concentrate on his education and make progress. Must be a load off your mind.

Spirit_2

Sounds like a lovely MSE day....enjoy the shower....the £45 will feel like money well spent

beanielou

Happy new shower~enjoy

JAMIEDODGER

Thanks for all your comments guys and hi Verbatim

Shower is now installed....however still no hot water!!! They are saying that I might have hot water by tonight but maybe not! This is getting ridiculous! I will be phoning HA this morning to find out why a 2 day job is now turning into a 3 day job! I haven't had hot water since sunday:mad:

On a different note, popped into Tesco in the end as I wanted a couple of things they don't sell at co-op. Spent £4.72, have updated signature:) I have still only spent £98.10 and have £126.90 left to last me 14 days:D I think I can manage this!!!! I have quite a bit in the freezer still so should be completely doable:)

Brummiebabe - While I was in Tesco I picked up some Creamfields milk, we are going to try this out as soon as the last of the skimmed milk has gone. I have my fingers crossed we like it as this will have a significant effect on my grocery bill. I think it will reduce the milk bill by over 50%. :j Thank you so much for the tip!

I am still using the meal planner although I am finding that some days I have to adjust what I am making so that I can take into account of who is here and who isn't, who doesn't like the main meal I am cooking etc. I don't mind this at all and I am also finding that I am getting leftovers, which are then carried over to the following day or frozen, moving the plan slightly. This bit is good as it means I am stretching the food and it will last longer.

I got some mince from the freezer yesterday, I will be making chilli with this. I am hoping for 5 portions out of this. Myself, DS1 & DS2 will eat 3 of the portions and there will be two left for the freezer. I will also need to get 3 portions of rice I froze the other day out, to have with tonights meal. I am still deciding what to give DS3 and DD for dinner, although DS3 has woken up with a high temp this morning and I hope he hasn't got the bug DD had last week, she was sick and didn't eat much for two days!:(

I need to order the train tickets today for our trip to London on 26th. Never ordered them online before so I hope that it is easy to do!

Boiler men are coming at 8am so I better finish on here soon and get dressed!!!

JAMIEDODGER

Morning everyone:)

Boiler installed yesterday and they put the hot water on for us before they left. They will be back this morning to drain the system again but it will only take an hour or so.

Unfortunately, as I was off to bed last night, I heard a drip drip drip noise coming from my hallway. Can you believe it is leaking again!!! I put a bowl down to catch the drips overnight but I am a bit worried where this new leak is coming from:mad: This probably means they will be here longer than planned today:(

Made the chilli yesterday for me , DS1 & Ds2. Ds3 and DD had pasta. Tonight is a use up night as I am out for dinner.

I had a sit down with my finances last night and realised I am kidding myself. I have creditcards but I pay them off in full each month to avoid paying any interest, then I put my spends for the month back on them and around it goes the same every month. I don't have any money in savings and am fast realising I am actually still in debt:eek: I can't believe I have gotten myself back there again after all the hard work it took to get myself out of it (more than once):(

Luckily my actual outgoings are relatively small and I know this is just a case of cutting back on other spending over and above the basics. I am going to go over everything again today and see where I am going wrong! I have joined the challenge One Debt v 100 Days and will be putting any savings I have made onto my cc which has a balance of £600. I will not be putting anything on this card over the course of those 100 days!!

I feel really bad that it has gotten like this again. I have really taken my eye off the ball, while throwing a little denial into the mix.

Right, enough with the moaning. This is where I get tough on myself and put a plan into action.:j

Off to make another cuppa:D

brummiebabe

Morning JD!!

I think it's so easy to get back into debt without 'noticing' - i'm exactly the same,start to put a few things on the credit card....don't keep track of your finances fo a while.....no debt a few months ago, but this has now gradually hit £800+. Have done the MSE thing and it's all on 0%, but am really mad at myself!!!

Now of course there's Christmas coming, I really need some winter clothes this year, DD needs a 'big girl bed', have just paid out got winter coats, school uniforms, shoes etc - and I've got to pay the debt - could kick myself.

But there's no point beating ourselves up - you're doing the best thing by being proactive, getting back on here and dealing with it!!!

Oh - and I hope the milk's ok - it's only a bargain if you like it x
nn

JAMIEDODGER

Thanks Brummiebabe:)

I know what you mean, there is so much to pay for at this time of the year, new school uniform, winter clothes etc! It was so much nicer to have to money to spend without having to 'pay it back'. I could kick myself too!!

But you are right, no point at all beating ourselves with the naughty stick!!! Get back into it asap and get rid of it all!! I know I can do it as I have done it before:D